FORMER Coventry City boss Gary McAllister has been put forward as a suitable replacement for Walter Smith as Scotland manager.

McAllister has been out of football since leaving Coventry in January 2004 to care for his wife, who later lost her battle against breast cancer.

But Charlie Nicholas, the former Scottish striker, said: "I don't know his current situation because he's been out of football a long time.

"I said before Walter got the job that I'd like a young coach who can identify young players and take it forward over a period of four, five or six years and I think Gary McAllister, with Tommy Burns, and maybe one older figure, maybe Davie Hay.

"Maybe between them all they could make it better.

"We've been improved by Walter and I'd like that to continue but we need the right people in."

Nicholas told Sky Sports News: "For me this is a rebuilding process still to be finished and I think Gary McAllister would be pretty good at doing that."